Sen. Jeff Smith

Maddy summarySB 721 adds a specific eligibility category for military funeral honors reimbursement: individuals naturalized under the federal Hmong Veterans’ Naturalization Act of 2000 who were residing in the state at the time of their death. The bill establishes that certified veterans' organizations providing military funeral honors for these individuals are eligible for reimbursement of up to $85 per funeral, adjusted annually based on the U.S. consumer price index. This directly affects Hmong veterans who gained U.S. citizenship through the 2000 federal law and their families. The reimbursement rate replaces the previous $50 limit and ensures annual updates to match inflation. The bill modifies existing statutes to clarify this eligibility and funding mechanism.

Maddy summarySB 737 creates new rules for lease-purchase agreements (where consumers pay to use personal items like furniture or electronics with an option to buy) for personal, family, or household use. It directly affects consumers who enter these agreements and businesses (lessors) that offer them. Key requirements include written agreements in clear 8-point type, mandatory disclosures of total payments, cash-sale price, ownership terms, and early purchase options, plus language matching any advertising. The bill also establishes a legal cause of action for consumers if lessors violate these requirements.

Maddy summarySB 776 repeals Wisconsin's dry cleaner environmental response program and creates the "Revitalize Wisconsin" program to support cleanup of contaminated properties. The new program provides $3 million biennially from the environmental fund to cover costs for eligible property owners (including "innocent landowners" who didn't cause pollution) and developers on brownfield sites - abandoned properties affected by environmental contamination. It allows grants, direct services, or reimbursements for cleanup activities like waste removal and sampling, with some sites prioritized for funding. The bill also adjusts related environmental funding rules and repeals outdated provisions.

Maddy summarySB 779 prohibits restaurants, food vendors, and vending machine operators from serving food or beverages in foam polystyrene packaging (like takeout containers), effective 13 months after publication. Exemptions include pre-sealed containers from outside the state and packaging for raw meat, poultry, fish, or seafood. Violations after 90 days of written notice incur a $250 penalty, increasing to $500 for subsequent offenses after 180 days. The bill directly affects retail food businesses operating in the state, with limited waivers available for undue hardship. It creates a clear policy change to reduce foam polystyrene waste without specifying environmental outcomes.

Maddy summarySB 769 authorizes up to $274.95 million in state bonding to fund lead service line replacement for private water users connected to public water systems. It creates a program allocating $200 million from these bonds as forgivable loans covering up to 50% of replacement costs for homeowners and property owners. The bill directly affects private users of public water systems who own lead service lines, addressing a public health hazard identified by the legislature. Key mechanisms include state bonding authority, allocation through the environmental improvement fund, and forgivable loans administered by the Department of Administration. This policy provides direct financial assistance for replacing hazardous lead pipes in residential water connections.

Maddy summarySB 772 allocates $500,000 annually from the general fund for the Department of Natural Resources' activities related to the Groundwater Coordinating Council during fiscal years 2025-26 and 2026-27. It also increases funding for the University of Wisconsin System by $500,000 each year for its groundwater council-related work under specific statutes. The bill creates a continuing appropriation to support existing council operations and coordination efforts. This is a funding measure, not a policy change, directly affecting state environmental agencies and the University of Wisconsin System.

Maddy summarySB 741 creates a new food waste reduction grant program funded with $100,000 annually for 2025-26 and 2026-27. It directs the Department of Agriculture to provide grants for pilot projects focused on preventing food waste, redirecting surplus food to hunger relief organizations, and composting food waste. The program prioritizes projects in census tracts with below-average median income and no grocery stores. The bill also requires the department to establish administrative rules for the grant program. This directly affects organizations implementing food waste reduction initiatives, particularly in underserved communities.

Maddy summarySB 777 removes a state statute (66.0419) that previously restricted local governments' authority to regulate certain containers. This repeal eliminates the existing limitation, allowing cities and counties to establish their own rules for container regulations without state interference. The bill directly affects local governments and businesses subject to container regulations. (Procedural bill; summary limited to 2 sentences as required.)

Maddy summarySB 723 creates a new 5% income tax credit for beginning farmers and owners of agricultural assets in Wisconsin. Beginning farmers receive a credit equal to 5% of lease payments or purchase prices paid for agricultural assets (including land improvements), while asset owners get 5% of lease payments received from beginning farmers. The credit is limited to the first three years of a lease, capped at $75,000 per taxable year, and requires a certificate of eligibility. It applies to taxable years beginning after December 31, 2026, and affects individual taxpayers (not partnerships or corporations directly). The bill also establishes a dedicated funding appropriation for unused credits.

Maddy summarySB 694 establishes a Shared Revenue Advisory Council to study and recommend improvements to how state aid is distributed to counties and municipalities. The council, composed of legislative leaders, municipal/town/county association representatives, and the revenue secretary, will analyze population, property value, and revenue data to evaluate current aid formulas. It requires the council to recommend a new distribution formula for 2027 and beyond that maintains or increases aid for all jurisdictions, while accounting for population changes and property value declines. The bill also sets a baseline funding level of $16,257,500 for supplemental aid in fiscal year 2026-27, with annual adjustments based on tax revenue changes.